Packing machine



A ril 3, 1934. H. T. WOODWARD PACKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 11, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

HARRY Z WOODWARD April .3, 1934. H. T. WOODWARD PACKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 11, 1932 6 Shets-Sheet 2 r/ ATTORNEY April 3, 1934. i H WOQDWARD 1,953,524

PACKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 11, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. HARE r 7. W001? WARD ATTORN April 3, 1934. WOQDWARD 1,953,524

PACKING MACHINE Filed Oct. l1 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 kid IN VEN TOR. #1422)? Y Z" Woozm mezz April 3, 1934. T, WOODWARD 1,953,524

PACKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 11, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

QATTOITVEY HARRY T l Voopwmep.

April 1934- H. T. WOODWARD 1,953,524

PACKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 11, 1952 s Sheets-Sheet e 15. INVENTOR.

/7'AR RY I 144900 WARD Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKING MACHINE poration of California Application October 11,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine designed to facilitate the packing and boxing of sugar cubes, or other articles of like nature, which are arranged evenly in rows and boxed in this order,

5 and more particularly to a machine for forming large blocks of sugar cubes and breaking up said large blocks into smaller blocks, of carton size, which have dimensions that are not an even submultiple of the corresponding dimensions of the original blocks, in a continuous manner without discarding any portion of the original blocks.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a machine by means of which cube sugar, or like articles, may be assembled in blocks 5 of a predetermined size and later divided in a simple manner into smaller blocks and transferred into suitable containers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel arrangement of movable supports and transfer means which will facilitate the handling of cube sugar in solid block formation, wherein a large block of sugar cubes may be broken up into a number of smaller blocks in a convenient manner by sliding the original block and portions thereof over said supports in different directions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel arrangement of apparatus whereby the sugar cubes may be transferred in a convenient manner from a number of trays, containing one layer of cubes each, to a support to form a solid block of sugar cubes having a number of layers superimposed one upon the other.

In the art to which this invention relates it is customary to form the sugar cubes in a single layer upon trays from which the cubes are transferred to suitable containers. Where possible the number and the arrangement of the cubes upon the trays will be such that the layer can be divided into equal parts that will correspond to the size of the cartons into which the cubes are to be placed. Under these conditions it will be seen that the carton must have dimensions that are an even sub-multiple of the corresponding dimerisions of the layer of cubes upon the trays, but

where it is desired to transfer the cubes from the trays to a carton, that does not have dimensions bearing the above relation to the dimensions of the trays of cubes, some means must be provided for breaking up any solid block of sugar cubes, formed from such trays, into smaller blocks in a convenient manner which will not necessitate a discarding of the excess cubes from any block.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a support having dimensions which will 1932, Serial No. 637,252

carry the cubes of a number of trays in superimposed layers as a solid block. Adjacent to this support there is a second support having a dimension corresponding to one dimension of the carton in which the cubes are to be finally placed a and between said supports there is a guide shelf,

over which the original block of cubes may in being transferred from the first support,

pass that length and breadth of the carton.

This third .support and the second support are so mounted that the block of cubes disposed thereupon may be moved outwardly and away from the remaining cubes, respectively upon the second support and the guide shaft, so as to form a break in the block which will facilitate a separation of the portions thereof at these points.

the third support is so mounted that it will be held away from the second support in a position where an inverted carton may be placed thereover and be later rotated into a vertical position where the support can be withdrawn from the carton.

In addition to the above features, the present invention also embodies various mechanism and details of construction which are to be described more specifically hereinafter.

For a better understanding of this invention reference should be had to the following draw.

ings wherein there is shown, by way of illustration and not of limitation, a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine structed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a rear view taken from the right of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an end view taken from the top of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a side elevation taken from the left of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the carton filling receptacle,

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing the ton in an upright position before the filling receptacle has been removed,

Figures 7 and 8 are details of a locking means for holding one of the cube supports in a determined position,

Rife- Further,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the elements which cooperate in forming an original block of cubes from a plurality of trays,

Figure 10 is a plan view of a tray with the cubes as originally deposited thereupon,

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 9,

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view of a detail of construction, and

Figure 13 is a plan view showing an outline or arrangement of the cubes upon the machine when the latter is completely filled.

In the drawings which show apparatus chosen to illustrate and facilitate an understanding of the present invention the numeral 10 designates a table like frame having two trackways 11 and 12 mounted horizontally thereupon. The trackway 11 extends along one side of the table 10 and the trackway 12 is located intermediate the ends of the trackway 11 and extends at a right angle thereto. Mounted upon the trackway 11 by means of suitable rollers there is provided a platform or support 13 upon which there is a vertical partition 14 that divides the platform into cube supports 15 and 16. This platform or support 13 is provided with a locking means and other cooperating parts which are to be described in more detail hereinafter. At this point it is sufficient to say that the platform. 13 can be moved from one end of the table 10 to the other and be secured at either end of its travel. A guide or shelf 17 which extends outwardly toward a second platform or cube support 18 is located midway the limits of travel of the platform 13 where one or the other of the cube supports 15 and 16 will align therewith. The cube support 18 is mounted upon a suitable carriage frame 19 which rides upon the trackway 12 and opposite the guide or shelf 17 this support 18 is provided with a vertical side wall 20. Mounted upon the carriage frame 19 with the support 18 there is also a cube discharging means which consists of a vertically disposed pusher plate 21 having a driving rack 22, a rack gear 23, and a driving chain 24 that connects with a sprocket 25 which is operated by a hand wheel 26. The movement of the carriage frame 19 and the cube support 18 is only sufficient to separate any cubes thereupon from those remaining upon the shelf 17, so that there will be no interference with a free movement of the pusher plate 21 when the cubes are pushed from the support 18. At the end of the support 18 there is a third support or receptacle 27 which has one open side so that the cubes may slide therein when they are pushed from the support 18 by the pusher plate 21. This receptacle and its supporting means are to be described in more detail hereinafter.

In order to transfer the sugar cubes from the cube supports 15 and 16 upon the platform 13 there is provided a second but larger pusher plate 28. This pusher plate has a driving rack 29, a rack gear 80, and a driving chain 31 which is driven by a sprocket 32 operated by a second hand wheel 33.

By referring to Figure 1 of the drawings it will be seen that the invention contemplates a series of horizontally disposed supports upon which the sugar is arranged in solid blocks, together with suitable transferring means that will move the sugar from one support to another in such a manner that the original blocks of cubes will be broken into smaller blocks of carton size in a simple, convenient and continuous manner without discarding any of the original cubes.

As shown in this figure of the drawings, the pusher plate 28 is disposed at one side of the cube supports 15 and/or 16 at a point opposite the guide shelf 17 so that it can push the original blocks of cubes from these supports sidewise and over the shelf 17 to the second support 18, and the pusher plate 21 is shown disposed at the end of the support 18 so that it will move at a right angle to the pusher plate 28 and push the portion of the cube block upon the support 18 to the third support 27, from which the cubes can be finally discharged into a carton.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings is designed to carry twelve layers of sugar cubes and in order to maintain the cubes in block formation the various supporting surfaces have side walls which extend vertically along the sides of the blocks.

In the case of the supports 15 and 16 there are provided side walls 34 and 35 which cooperate with the central partition 14 and respectively with the hinged end walls 36 and side walls 37 to form a rectangular receptacle that will just accommodate the original block of cubes. The hinged end walls 36 are mounted upon and move with the platform 13 and the hinged side walls 8'7 are mounted upon the table 10 so that they remain stationary opposite the cooperating side walls 34 and 35. Along the sides of the shelf or guide 17 there are shown suitable side walls 38. A short side wall 39 is also provided opposite its side wall 20 at the discharge end of the support 18.

In. addition to the hinged end walls 36, the platform 13 also carries locking abutments 40 and 41 which cooperate with an oscillating pawl 42. This pawl is carried by a shaft 43 that is adapted to be oscillated by suitable cranks 44 attached at each of its ends. The locking abutments 40 and 41 are located respectively beneath the supports 15 and 16, so that when the pawl 42 is in engagement therewith the support 15 or the support 16 will be located in alignment with and between the guide shelf 17 and the pusher plate 28. Disposed beneath the platform 13 and cooperating with downwardly depending extensions 45 carried by the hinged end walls 36 (see Figures 2 and 3) there are oppositely disposed adjustable stops 46 which serve to hold the ends walls in parallel relation with the central partition 14, when one or the other of the supports 15 and 16 is locked in alignment with the shelf 17. From an inspection of the drawings it will be seen that the hinged side walls 37 are pivoted at a point removed from. their normal plane so that they will remain vertical when moved to this position. It will also be noted that the end walls 36 and the side walls 3'7 are adapted to be turned down to a horizontal position where they will provide a rest for the trays when the supports 15 and 16 are being filled with cubes.

Upon referring particularly to Figures 1, 8 and 4 of the drawings, it will be noted that the trackway 12 is only long enough to permit a lateral movement of the support 18 sufiicient to form a break between the cubes deposited upon this support and those remaining upon the guide shelf 1'7. It will also be noted that as the frame 19 and the support 18 are thus moved upon the trackway 12 the pusher plate 21 and its driving rack 22 will move therewith. The above referred to movement of the support 18 is controlled by a crank 47 upon the end of a lead screw 48 which engages a threaded abutment 49 carried by the frame 10.

Immediately beneath the rack gear 28 and mounted upon the frame 19 there is shown a pair of chain guiding sprockets which direct the chain 24 to the sprocket 25. A similar pair of guiding sprockets 50 is also provided for guiding the chain 31 to its sprocket 32.

At the discharge end of the support 18 the frame 19 is provided with a pair of downwardly and outwardly projecting brackets 51 that form a pivotal mounting for the receptacle 27 and an additional pair of brackets 52 which provide a fulcrum point about which the receptacle may be rotated when the final block of sugar cubes is to be deposited in their shipping carton, as will be pointed out hereinafter. For a better understanding of this latter aspect of the present invention reference should also be made to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, wherein the final cube receiving support is illustrated on a larger scale. In these latter figures of the drawings the support 27 is shown as having a downwardly depending flange 53 that cooperates with a latch 54 carried by the frame 19. This latch 54 is operated by a small crank 55 which, through an eccentric cam 56, serves to turn the latch 54 about a pivot 5'7. When the latch 54 is in engagement with the flange 53 the support 27 will be held with its bottom in horizontal alignment with the end of the support 18, as illustrated by dotted lines, and when the latch 54 is released the support 27 will assume a slightly tilted position of equilibrium upon the arms 51 and 52, as illustrated by full lines in the drawings. When the support 2'7 is in this latter position the sugar cubes will be held therein and permit the placing of an inverted carton, desig nated by the numeral 58, thereover. In order that the support or receptacle 2'7 may be mounted in the above manner upon the arms 51 and 52 it is provided with a pair of downwardly projecting side frames 59. At the extreme end of each of the side frames 59 there is an open bearing point 60 which engages with a rod 61 disposed transversely between the arms 51 and at a slightly higher point these side frames 59 are provided with a transversely extending rod 62 that engages fulcrum recesses 63 formed at the ends of the arms 52. The rod 62 is so disposed that it is beyond the center of gravity of the loaded support 27 and as a result it will hold the support 27 in equilibrium when it is unlaiched and moved to its second position upon the arms 51 and 52.

Before proceeding with the further description of this invention attention is directed to Figures 7 and 8, wherein the details of the locking abutments 40 and 41 are shown. From these figures of the drawings it will be seen that each of the abutments comprises a pair of bosses 64 upon which there is provided oppositely disposed adjustable stops 65 between which the pawl 42 may move as the shaft 43 is turned. In order to prevent the pawl 42 passing completely through the adjustable abutments 65 it is provided with a stop 66 which cooperates with a stationary projection 6'7 formed between the bosses 64. The pawl 42 is preferably wedge shaped so that when it is brought into its final position it will move the platform 13 one way or the other to bring either of the supports 15 and 16 into exact alignment with the shelf 17.

When the supports 15 and 16 are secured in position with the end wall 36 and the side wall 37 turned down, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the support 16 can be filled by transferring the sugar cubes from the trays upon which they are deposited by the cube forming machine.

For an understanding of this aspect of the present invention reference should be had to Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings. In Figure 9 the support 16 is illustrated as having received its last layer of cubes from the trays, one of which, designated by the numeral 68, is shown as not having been withdrawn, and in Figure 10 the tray 68 is shown with the cubes arranged in spaced relation thereupon.

At this point it should be stated that the sugar cubes are formed from slightly moist granulated sugar by an automatic machine and consequently they must be spaced from each other, as illustrated, to facilitate a drying thereof when the trays pass through a drying oven. After the trays of cubes have been dried the cubes may be easily pushed into close formation. In accordance with the present invention the trays, with these cubes in spaced relation, are placed upon the supports 15 or 16 with one end and a side respectively against the partition 14 and the fixed side wall 34 or side wall 35, depending upon whether support 15 or support 16 is being filled. After a tray has been thus placed upon the support a right angle square 69 is brought into engagement with the remaining end and side of the layer of cubes and the cubes are then pushed diagonally over the tray until they are in close formation against the partition 14 and the fixed side wall 34 or side wall 35 adjacent the platform 13.

As soon as the cubes have been moved to the above position and while the last square is held by the operator the tray 68 is withdrawn. The stop bars 70 are then elevated to engage the last square 69 while other layers of cubes are added to the platform. In order to permit the original block of cubes to be built up with successive trays of cubes, without interference from the stop bars '70, these bars are mounted so that they can be notched up step by step as the block of cubes is built up. This notching movement of the stop bars 70 is obtained by connecting the lower ends of the stop bars to levers '71 carried by a shaft '72 which is adapted to be turned with a step by step movement by means of a hand lever 73. The hand lever 73 has a pawl 74 and disposed in the path of the pawl there is a ratchet sector '75 which serves to hold the stop bars in any position to which they are elevated by the hand lever 73. A similar set of stop bars 70 and a second hand lever 73 are also provided at the other end of the platform 13. The hand levers 73 are placed in right and left hand relation behind the stationary walls 35 and 34 so that they will not interfere with the placing of the trays of cubes upon the supports 15 and 16. The mounting of the stop bars 70 at the end of the support 15 is illustrated in Figure 11 of the drawings.

When the successive layers of cubes are deposited upon the support 16 additional squares 69 will be superimposed upon each other and as the trays 68 are withdrawn the squares will form a side and an end wall which will retain the block of cubes in place. After the block has been thus built up to the desired height the stop bars 70 can be dropped to permit the removal of the squares 69. The adjacent hinged end and side walls 36 and 3'? can then be turned up into engagement with the block of cubes. When the end and side walls 36 and 37 have been thus turned up the support 16 can be moved into its discharging position opposite the pusher plate 28. During this movement there will be practically no pressure exerted by the cubes upon these side and end walls, but after the support 16 has been secured in its discharging position there is a possibility that the cubes may be crowded against the hinged wall 36 when the pusher plate 28 operates and therefore, in order to prevent the cubes being displaced, each end wall 36 is provided with the previously described downwardly depending extensions which engage the adjustable stops l5.

As illustrated in Figure 12 of the drawings, the extensions 45 are formed upon hinges 76 which support the end walls 36 and the adjustable stops 4.6 are shown as comprising a stud 7'7 threaded in the end of a stationary portion 78 upon the table or frame 10. A check nut 79 is also shown for locking the stud '77 at any desired point.

For an understanding of the operation of the present invention reference should be had to Fig ure 13 of the drawings. As here illustrated, the pusher plate 28 is shown as having pushed a block of cubes from the support 15 to the shelf 17 and the support 18, and the pusher plate 21 is shown as having pushed a portion of the original block along the support 15 and deposited a part thereof upon the receptacle or support 27. Dur ing the above operation the support 16 will be held stationary where it can be filled by depositing layers of cubes thereupon. In the normal operation of this apparatus two operators will be employed. One operators duty will be to alternately fill the supports 15 and 16 as the cube blocks are pushed therefrom by the pusher plate 28, and the other operators duty will be to move the cube block and portions thereof with the pusher plates 21 and 28 and also provide the cartons into which. the sugar cubes are to be finally packed.

As the supports 15 and 16 are filled they will be alternately moved adjacent the pusher plate 28. After one of the filled supports 15 or 16 is thus placed opposite the pusher plate 28, the second operator can then transfer the cube block from the support to the self 17 and the second support 18 by rotating the hand wheel 33. As soon as the cube block has been thus moved from the support 15, as shown in Figure 13 of the drawings, the pusher plate 28 is again returned to its initial position by rotating the hand wheel 33 in the reverse direction. The filled support 16 can then be moved into position adjacent the pusher plate 28 and the support 15 refilled while the previous block is being disposed of.

When the original block of cubes has been moved from the support 15 to the shelf 17 and the support 18, it will be in a position where it can be divided along one of its dimensions. At this point the operator will turn the small crank upon the lead screw 48 to part the block of cubes at the end of the shelf 1'7, and then by rotating the hand wheel 26 he will bring the pusher plate 21 into operation to push the separated portion of the original block along the support 18. This will slide a portion thereof upon the support or receptacle 27. The operator can now separate the cubes upon the support 27 from those upon the support 18 and deposit them in a suitable carton,

as will be hereinafter described, or he may return the pusher plate 21 to its initial position and, after closing the separation between shelf l7 and support 18, transfer the remaining cubes upon the shelf 17 and additional cubes from the support 16 to the support 18. In this latter event the pusher plate 28 will be moved a suflicient distance to again fill the space upon the second support 18 previously cleared by the pusher plate After the original block of cubes has been shuflled over the shelf 17 and the support 18 and a portion thereof disposed in the receptacle or support 27, the operator can proceed to box the sugar cubes in suitable cartons. In connection with this phase of the operation reference should be had to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. The operator can now release the support 27 with its block of cubes and thus separate the final block of cubes from the cubes resting upon the support 18. This is accomplished by turning the small crank which controls the latch 54. When the latch 54 disengages the flange 53 upon the support 2'? the latter will swing outwardly from the cube support 18, about its pivotal support upon the rod 61 at the ends of the arms 51, and come to rest with its rod 62 in engagement with the fulcrum recesses 63 upon the ends of the arms 52.

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the inverted carton can be slipped over the support 2'? so as to completely enclose the block of cubes. After the carton, shown in dotted lines and designated by the numeral 58, is placed over the support 2?, the carton and the support can be rotated clockwise to a vertical position and, if de sired, completely detached from the other apparatus, as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. When the supportZ'? with the carton has bee thus detached from the apparatus the support 27 can be withdrawn from the carton leaving the cubes of sugar therein in block formation. Another nethod of procedure would be to permit the support 2'? with the carton 68 to rotate about the fulcrum points 63 without detaching it therefrom and then lower the carton and the cubes away from the support by hand or other suitable means.

In order to facilitate an easy withdrawal of the support 27 fr m the carton after the cubes have been deposited therein, I provide this support with a loose bottom in the form of a flat plate 80. With this arrangement the cubes can be held. in the carton during the support withdrawing operation and no vacuum will be produced therein. The plate may be provided with a convenient handle 81 if desired.

While, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose the invention so that the same can be readily understood, there is described and illustrated specific devices and arrangements, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific means disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will. suggest themselves, in View of this broad disclosure, to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that this invention is broadly new and it is desired to claim it as such so that all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

What is claimed is 1. In a cube sugar packing machine, the combination of a horizontally movable support adapted to hold two blocks of sugar cubes having a predetermined number of cubes arranged in a plurality of layers, a second support adapted to hold a single block of cubes having a lesser numof cubes per layer, a shelf between supports over which one of said two blocks of sugar cubes may be moved in passing from said first support to said second support, m ans for positioning said movable support to locate one or the other of said two blocks of sugar cubes adjacent said shelf, and means for alternately pushing one or the other of said blocks of cubes from said first support to said shelf and second support, the location of said shelf and said last means with respect to said movable support be-v ing such that one block of cubes may be deposited on said first support while the other block is being discharged therefrom.

2. In a cube sugar packing machine, the combination of a platform adapted to carry a block of sugar cubes, means for pushing said block of sugar cubes along said platform, an open sided receptacle at the endof said platform for receiving a portion of the sugar cubes upon said platform as said cubes are pushed there along, a latch for holding said receptacle in alignment with said platform, a pivotal support for said receptacle adapted to permit it to pivot outwardly and away from the end of said platform when the latch is released to provide a break in the block of sugar cubes at the point where said receptacle engages the end of said platform to permit an inverted carton being disposed over said receptacle without disturbing the remaining sugar cubes upon said platform, and a detachable supporting means for said receptacle, whereby the receptacle may be inverted and withdrawn from the carton to deposit the sugar cubes carried thereby in said carton.

3. In a cube sugar packing machine, the combination of a horizontally disposed trackway, a movable table upon said trackway having a vertical partition extending transversely there across to form cube sugar receiving platforms on each side thereof, side walls adjacent said table for re-= taining a number of layers of sugar cubes upon said platforms, means intermediate the ends of said trackway for pushing the sugar cubes sidewise from one or the other of the platforms upon said table, a locking means for holding said table stationary with one of its platforms in alignment with said last means, an end closure wall for each of said platforms, and means for retaining one or the other of said end walls in parallel relation with the central partition when the table is locked at either of its limits of travel.

4. In a cube sugar packing machine, the combination of a movable table having a transversely extending central partition forming a platform at each end thereof for receiving a block of sugar cubes, a transverselymovable ram disposed intermediate the limits of travel of said table for pushing the block of cubes sidewise from either of said platforms, means disposed opposite said ram for receiving the block of cubes from one of said platforms, a hinged wall at each end of said table, means cooperating with said table for looking it in either extreme position with one of its platforms adjacent said ram, and means for retaining one of aid hinged walls parallel with said central partition when its corresponding end of said table is locked adjacent the ram, whereby the cubes will be held in a block when moved by said ram.

5. In a sugar packing machine, the combination of a movable table having a partition extending centrally thereacross to form a sugar cube supporting area at each end thereof, a second and smaller sugar cube supporting table disposed to one side of said first table, a shelf centrally disposed between the limits of movement of said first table for directing the sugar cubes on to said second table, locking means for holding said first table in either of its extreme positions with one of its cube supporting areas in alignment with said shelf, and means for sliding the sugar cubes from said area over said shelf and upon said second table.

6. In a sugar packing machine, the combination of a horizontally disposed trackway, a receiving table having a plurality of cube supporting areas mounted on said trackway and adapted'to move backward and forward between two extreme positions, a transversely movable pusher means disposed along the line of travel of said table, a guide shelf disposed opposite said pusher means, and locking means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed adjustable stops located beneath each of said cube supporting areas and carried by said table and a single wedge shaped member adapted to cooperate with either pair of stops depending upon which cube supporting area is adjacent said pusher means for positioning the cube supporting areas of said table in alignment with said pusher means and guide shelf, whereby the sugar cubes may be alternately moved in a block from the cube supporting areas of said receiving table.

7. In a sugar packing machine, the combination of a stationary horizontal support adapted to receive a solid block of sugar cubes several layers deep having a side wall and an end wall, a plurality of superimposed squares adapted to be successively piled one upon the other to form a second side wall and end wall upon said support as successive trays and sugar cubes are deposited upon said support, and means adapted to be progressively raised and brought into engagement with the successive squares below the top surfaces htereof for retaining said squares in superimposed relation upon said support as the sugar block is built up, whereby the cube supporting tray beneath the upper layer of sugar cubes may be withdrawn without intereference with said means.

8. In a cube sugar packing machine, the combination of a horizontally disposed trough like support adapted to hold a block of sugar cubes several layers high, means for pushing said block of sugar cubes along said support, a receptacle having an open side disposed at the end of said trough like support adapted to receive a portion of said block of sugar cubes, a pivotal support for said receptacle, a fulcrum disposed outwardly from said pivotal support adapted to cooperate therewith and support said receptacle in a second position removed from the end of said trough like support, whereby an inverted carton may be placed over the block of cubes carried by said receptacle, and means whereby said receptacle can disengage said pivotal support and rotate about said fulcrum to discharge the block of sugar cubes carried thereby into a carton.

9. In a cube sugar packing machine, the combinatron of a horizontally disposed trough like support adapted to hold a block of sugar cubes several layers high, means for pushing said block of sugar cubes along said trough like support, a receptacle having an open side disposed at the end of said support adapted to receive a portion of said block of sugar cubes, an open pivotal support for said receptacle, a latching means adapted to hold said receptacle upon said pivotal support and in alignment with said trough like support, and a fulcrum disposed outwardly from said pivotal support adapted to cooperate therewith and support said receptacle in a second position removed from the end of said trough like support, whereby an inverted carton may be placed over the block of cubes carried by said receptacle, said fulcrum also forming a pivotal point about which the receptacle may be rotated to an inverted position and out of engagement with said open pivotal support.

10. In a cube sugar packing machine, the combination of a horizontally disposed trough like support adapted to support a block of sugar cubes several layers high, a receptacle having an open side disposed at the end of said trough like support adapted to receive a block of said sugar cubes, a detachable pivotal support for said receptacle, a latching means adapted to hold said receptacle upon said pivotal support and in alignment with said trough like support, and a fulcrum disposed outwardly from said pivotal support 

